Mounting for fire extinguishers



May 23, 1939. P, EVANS 2,159,889

' MOUNTING FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS' Filed April 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0 0 9W o- :i o o s! 0G98 "x00 O o o@ May 23, 1939. I v P EVANS 2,159,889

MOUNTING FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Filed April 18, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 23, .1939

UNITED STATES ATET OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a i'lre extinguisher unit, and more particularly to a unit including a mounting for re extinguishers of the frangible container type such as that shown in my copending applications filed February 1, 1934, Serial No. '709,382 for Fire control apparatus, and iiled January 17, 1936, Serial No. 59,629, for Fire extinguisher.

The containers of this type of fire extinguisher are purposely constructed so that they are very Vreadily broken, thus rendering the fire extinguisher unsuitable in its form described in my prior applications for use in locations where it is likely to be subjected to rough treatment or accidentally struck in anymanner. On the other hand, the fire extinguishers of this type lend themselves admirably to use in quarters where they are likely to be subjected to such action as, for example, in the motor compartments of automobiles, trucks, buses or marine engines. Where they are employed in this capacity, the ideal location for the extinguisher is as close as possible to the upper surface of the engine, Without subjecting the automatic fuses controlling oper- 25 ation thereof to sufficient heat to cause accidental operation of the extinguisher, since in such locations they are best adapted to distribute their contents over'the carburetor and adjoining portions of the engine in event of re. When so 30 located, however, they are definitely obstructive in manipulation of engine parts during repairs, vwithout regard to the extent thereof, and are further subjected to the intense vibration of the engine and, in the case of automotive vehicles other than boats, to the vibration of the vehicle in general.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a lire extinguishing unit of the frangible container type so constructed and o arranged that it may be positioned in the closest possible proximity to the engine, which is so constructed that it safeguardsthe frangible container against possible damage during the minor repairs such as removal and replacement of spark 45 plugs, wiring connections and the like, and which at the same time is so constructed that the entire device may be very readily bodily removed and placed in a Safe position during major repairs. Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure of this character which may be readily and cheaply manufactured, is readily installed and removed, and will be durable and efficient in service.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a structure in which the removal of the (c1. 16a-mi) Fig. l is a plan View of a re extinguisher unit constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a semi-diagrammatic view illustrating a typical installation of the unit in an engine compartment.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a foraminous shield which is preferably constructed as il1ustrated by bending a foraminous sheet II in substantial vU form, in which form it is maintained by angle brackets I2 straddling the ends of the shield at the approximate center of the U. Attached to this sheet are a plurality of arms I3, the purpose of which will presently appear, these arms lying in approximately the same plane and being angularly disposed as regards the surfaces of the arms of the U. Within the shield a bracket I4 is secured by means of securing elements I5 extending through openings in the shield and bracket, this bracket supporting the discharge mechanism I6 for the extinguisher unit per se, and through spring clips I'I and I8 the frangible container i9 for the fire extinguishing medium.

The surface to which the shield is to be applied is equipped with a plurality of sockets 2D for the reception of arms I3, these sockets being conveniently provided by employing a sheet 2| and striking loops out from the surface of the sheet to form the sockets. The sheet is further adapted, as by the provision of openingsl 22 for the reception of securing elements, to be attached to the surface upon which the extinguisher is to be mounted as, for example, the wall W of a motor compartment. The upper surface of the mounting sheet QI, that is to say, the upper end portion thereof at its front face has pivoted thereto as at 23 a camming device 24. This camming device includes a peak 25 for frictional engagement with the shield and, more specifically, with one of the arms I3 of the shield and with an operating handle 26 which, in the operative position of the camming device, engages against the upper surface of the shield. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 2 that in this operative position the handle 26 and peak 25 engage the shield at points at opposite sides of a plane designated by line A-A which is perpendicular to the upper shield surface and includes the axis of the pivot 23. Since, in order to disengage the arms i3 from the sockets 20,` it is essential that the shield move toward the axis of the camming device 24, it will be obvious that any such movement will tend to tighten rather than loosen the engagement of the camming device so that the shield will be very firmly held in its position. This tendency is further accentuated by giving the arms and sockets such an angle that the upper surface of the shield during its upward movement must move from the free end of the handle portion toward the peak, with the result that the frictional engagement between the peak and shield will tend to rotate the cam about its axis in the direction of the arrow B and more firmly seat the same. At the same time, when it is desired to remove the shield and its contained extinguishing unit per se this is readily accomplished by releasing the cam, at which time the arms I3 may be readily disengaged from the socket Il.

It Will be noted that the bight of the shield is a Y perfect arc, thus permitting adjustment of the bracket to any desired position and permitting the same to directly underlie the extinguisher unit I9 without regard to the angle of the wall to which the structure is attached.

Since the construction illustrated is, obviously, capable of considerable modification without departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. An automatic fire extinguisher unit for the purpose described comprising a support embodying a plurality of sockets, a foraminous shield having arms to engage in said sockets, la releasable camming device to engage said shield and maintain said arms in engagement with said sockets, a bracket Within said shield and an automatic iire extinguisher of the frangible container type supported by said bracket.

2l. A device as claimed in claim l1 wherein the camming device includes a peak and an operating handle engaging the shield at opposite sides of a plane perpendicular to the engaged surface of the shield and including the axis of the pivot of the camming device and in which the handle of the camming device moves toward the engaged surface as said camming device is brought to its operative position.

3. An automatic re extinguisher unit for the purpose described comprising a support, a foraminous shield having quick-detachable connection with the support, a bracket within said shield and removably connected thereto and an automatic re extinguisher of the frangible container type supported by said bracket within the shield and unremovable from the bracket while connected to the shield.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camming device includes a peak and an operating handle engaging the shield at opposite sides of a plane perpendicular to the engaged surface of the shield and including the axis of the pivot of the camming device and in which the handle of the camming device moves toward the engaged surface as said camming device is brought to its operative position, and said sockets are so inclined with relation to said plane that the engaged surface of the shield would move from said plane toward the peak of the cam if it were attempted to disengage the shield arms from the sockets.

POWELL EVANS. 

